Fall is in the air. Other than football season, Halloween costumes, and sprucing up my closet with classic fall pieces, I’m also adding fall books to my TBR list. Shows like Gilmore Girls and Vampire Diaries have defrosted, thrusting me into full fall vibes. With that said, I’m shelving my summer beach reads and swapping them out for cozy books to fit with my pumpkin spice latte and sweater weather aesthetic. I’m first drawn to ghostly rom-coms and anything with witchy magic. Then there are autumnal books that make me want to snuggle up with a blanket while I gaze out the window at fall foliage. I want to dive into new novels that make me want to bake an apple pie. And I’m adding titles to my TBR that give me the zombie jump scare but are lighthearted enough that I’m not hiding under the covers.
If you want to romanticize the autumn season, dive into books that take you into a world filled with magical charm. These books aren’t suspenseful thrillers, but they’re the perfect balance of spooky and feel-good reads to get you in the cozy mood. Read on to find 40 of the coziest books that give all the fall vibes.
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Editor’s 2026 Cozy Fall Picks
The fall is a busy season for moms who are deep in their kids’ sports and extracurricular activities, the moms who are part of the PTO, the working moms, and the moms who are starting (or finalizing) their holiday gifts for the fam. With that said—and whatever the reason—reading or listening to a book can be difficult, let alone choosing one! But don’t worry, if you need help narrowing down a book to read this autumn, try one of my editor’s picks:
- Best book by a new author: You’re the One That I Haunt by Katie Jung
- Most anticipated cozy fall book of 2026: Grim Tidings by B.K. Borison
- Best fall book for Gossip Girl vibes: The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham
- Best fall book for Practical Magic vibes: The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
- Best reread for the fall vibes: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
- Best audiobook listen: Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Cozy witchy reads for fall
If you love books filled with spells, witches, and magic, cozy up with one of these books under the autumn moonlight. These reads are ones to add to your fall reading list.
From the author of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic and Spells, Strings, and Forgotten Things, Breanne Randall brings a new magical story about a witch hiding a dangerous secret. She’s thrust into an elite magical academy where survival means risking her life and heart.
The second book in The Scottish Charms series is debuting right in time for the fall. Lyra MacGregor’s magic is as unpredictable as her love life—especially when her spellwork starts misfiring during the filming of Briarhaven’s favorite reality TV show: Bewitching Bake Off. Even worse? She’s paired with Rabbie Barclay, her high school sweetheart turned heartbreak.
Lucille, Catherine, and Victoria are invited to attend a prestigious (and male-dominated) university for a trial semester. Their experience will determine whether or not women will be allowed to attend other universities across the state of Alabama. But with the male students’ mission to see the three women fail, Lucille, Catherine, and Victoria form a coven. They’ll need all the allies they can get to rid the school of something much darker amongst its halls.
releasing October 6, 2026
pre-order now!
It’s been over 20 years since the Owens sisters entranced us in the 1998 book-to-movie adaptation, Practical Magic. If you’re someone who grew up watching Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in this movie classic, then get ready for Practical Magic 2 by reading The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman before its September 2026 theatrical release. The Owens family is at it again, working together to break a curse. What magic will they conjure up this time? What will they do for love? And what familial secrets will they uncover? It’s the perfect witchy read.
The Montrose witches, Augusta, Victoria, and Willow, have always lived a quiet life. They’ve held onto a generational secret from the youngest Montrose, Nickie, that if a Montrose woman falls in love, the outcome is death. When Nickie brings a boy home, disorder is cast into their lives. Through heartache, self-reflection, and magical twists, find out if the curse of love can be broken.
Author Sangu Mandanna created a spooky and lighthearted read that is perfect for any fall reading list. In this novel, Britain is used to being alone, but when she receives an invitation to the Nowhere House to help three witches learn how to control their magic, she can’t resist going. With dangers at every corner, she must decide whether to risk it all to protect the people she now considers family. If you love this book from Mandanna, read A Witch’s Guide to Magical Inkeeping next.
After Gemma gets dumped by her boyfriend, she enlists the help of her sister, aunt, and best friend, Dax, to make her feel better. The drunken night leads to them performing a love-cleansing spell. When it inevitably goes awry, Gemma wakes up the next day to find her life completely unrecognizable—including Dax not knowing who she is. To reverse it, she needs to win back his friendship, but it’s not long before she realizes she may not want to go back to being just friends. Can’t get enough of author Kate Robb? Her new book, Solar Eclipse of the Heart, hits shelves in October 2026.
Being the most powerful witch and part of a magical family, you’d think life would be all things magic. That isn’t the story for Mariel Spark, though, who’s more interested in baking and gardening than casting spells and potions. But when a spell goes wrong, she summons a demon soul bargainer, Ozroth the Ruthless. Ozroth only has one mission in mind: to collect souls. But after Mariel’s summon-gone-wrong, the two are bound to each other. Mariel and Ozroth strike a deal to pretend to date each other. However, is the magic between them purely magic, or is it actual chemistry? Read the rest of the series: A Demon’s Guide to Wooing a Witch and A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire.
For spooky season, read this not-so-scary but heartwarming witchy tale. When the stress of life is making her miserable, Belle no longer has time to perfect her magic. As her 13th birthday approaches, she is put on trial to test her worthiness as a witch. With only a month to prove herself or lose her craft forever, Belle seeks help from the women in her life and an unlikely source. Continue the series by reading Uncharmed and Wood’s latest novel, Disenchanted, available September 8, 2026.
Dubbed the perfect combination of Charmed and Gilmore Girls, Impractical Magic may be every millennial’s dream fall read. Scarlett Melrose has made a lovely life for herself in a quiet San Francisco flat. But when the magic in her hometown of Oak Haven has gone awry, she must return home to help save it—and face her estranged sisters and an old flame. Read the next books in the series titled Jingle Spells and No Charm Done, which debuts September 8, 2026.
Romance novels that you’ll ‘fall’ in love with
Looking for novels that fall under the category of comfy-cozy meets When Harry Met Sally? Try one of these romance novels that will surely have you falling in love with the characters and the season.
If you love a second-chance romance, pick up It’s Different This Time this fall. Former roommates June Wood and Adam Harper find themselves back into their beloved New York City brownstone. The two haven’t spoken to each other in five years, but some time together in the same proximity forces them to confront their past and some unresolved feelings.
For the ‘90s girly, travel back to 1997 in Julie Olivia’s cozy fall novel. Michelle has three months left of manning her Vermont inn. Her plan: pass the inn off to her little sister and get the promotion in Seattle she’s been working for. But will her plans be derailed when all she can think about is kissing her hot, charming neighbor?
After Bonfire & Bliss Bookstore owner Penny Darling’s failed (and very public) engagement, cozying up by the fire with a book boyfriend is the only type of action she’s up for. Until her high school best friend Jake “Monty” Montgomery—and struggling author—needs her help. Penny agrees to teach him to write the perfect book boyfriend while he poses as her ‘real’ love interest. But pretend kisses in the apple orchard has her questioning whether or not Monty is the type to love her back.
Read Ellen O’Clover’s fall enemy-to-lovers trope. Copywriters Mattie French and Campbell Porter have a long history—of a taunting relationship. And when the writers’ agencies put them against each other, they learn that their competitive nature is a different type of game.
releasing September 15, 2026
pre-order now!
Books with small-town & cottagecore vibes
Want the small-town feel of baked goods, flannel shirts, and slow living? One of these books will surely give you that romantic fall feel you’re looking for.
Julia Schaeffer might run the most romantic little bed-and-breakfast in Upstate New York, but as far as that infuriating Ethan Duchamp is concerned, this older, wiser Julia has a strict “no vacancy” policy. Sure, she’s teetering on the edge of a financial cliff, and his half-baked plan to pair up his celebrity clients at her inn will undoubtedly be good for business… but how much forced proximity with the man who abandoned her is she supposed to take?
The third novel in the Lovelight Farms Series is the perfect autumnal book! Free-spirited tattoo artist Nova Porter and investment banker Charlie Milford are total opposites. Their opposites-attract chemistry has been brewing for years, and they find themselves catching a feel when Charlie comes to Inglewood to help his sister, Stella, on her farm. In order to get each other out of their system, the two agree to settle for a one-night stand. But what happens when the plan backfires? They’re not so sure they can keep it business casual.
After setting her entire building on fire after a baking fiasco, Olivia Rawlings escapes to small-town life in Guthrie, Vermont. Accepting a place to stay at the Sugar Maple Inn, her trade-off is to help the owner take back the inn’s blue ribbon status at the county fair’s apple pie contest. Finding joy again in Guthrie, she also meets Martin McCracken. But when things seem too good to be true, Livvy must decide if she must leave or stay with the people who’ve become her family.
All Beckett Pierce and Gianna Decker need in their lives right now is anything but love. Both Beckett and Gianna are fresh out of relationships that didn’t work for them, and love isn’t in the cards—or so they think. They say love happens when you aren’t searching for it. Can Beckett and Gianna keep to themselves, or will they fall into temptation? Can’t get enough of Lucy Score? Then add all of her novels in the Blue Moon Series to your TBR.
The only type of relationship Lexi Danby is looking for is a fall-fling. So when she (literally) stumbles upon Will Grand at her waitressing gig, he’s the perfect person to get what she’s looking for. As Seattle’s most eligible bachelor and someone who needs to prove to his company that he’s settled down, he and Lexi work together to stage a fake engagement. Things aren’t as fake as they thought after the two breathe the same crisp fall air (of love, that is).
In order for Callum Flannelly to continue in the funeral industry and inherit his family’s business, he has to be married by his 35th birthday, which is a daunting task for someone who absolutely loathes the idea of love. But when Lark Thompson gets stuck staying next to Callum’s funeral home, a haunting reminder of her late husband, the last thing she had in mind was to help a mortician. However, nothing is “dead” set in life. Their relationship may be a little more “lively” than they thought.
Calling all Jane Austen fans! Pick up Janice Hadlow’s novel if you haven’t already. While Hadlow’s book debuted in 2020, the book-to-series adaptation recently hit streaming services this year, and it’s also worth the read (or reread). The Other Bennet Sister retells Pride and Prejudice from middle sister Mary Bennet’s point of view. Mary sets out to find love and independence. Readers have claimed Mary as their favorite Bennet sister.
Fall bookish escapes & literary magic
Head to your favorite bookstore and grab your favorite fall coffee order. It’s the perfect setting to dive into these fall bookish escapes that are both adventurous and mysterious.
Matt Haig’s second book in The Midnight World Series is already a hit. A story of time travel and magic, Wilbur misses the best days of his life: his honeymoon in Venice with Maggie. He wishes he could go back and relive them, but what is the cost of boarding the midnight train? Matt Haig has a knack for creating unforgettable, magical stories. You won’t regret picking this one up.
In the cozy Cinnamon Bun Bookshop, Hazel finds a message that sends her on a hunt to uncover its codes. Noah, a fisherman and a man who’s had his eye on Hazel, is thrilled to help her on her adventure. But the cinnamon rolls at the store aren’t the only things that are steaming. Get into the seasonal mood with all of Gilmore’s books in the Dream Harbor Series.
Nina Redmond has to pivot her life after the library she’s employed at closes down. She boldly turns a van into a mobile bookshop, and she makes a mark in a Scottish Highlands village. Bringing people together with books is her power. This newfound life allows her to start a story of her own, along with new love and connection. Next up, read The Bookshop on the Shore and 500 Miles From You.
After losing her department store job, Carmen has few options for getting by. And the thought of spending the holidays with her perfect sister, Sofia, is almost more than she can take. When Sofia poses a job offer to Carmen to work in a bookstore for one of Sofia’s clients, Carmen reluctantly agrees. She soon finds herself intrigued not only by the dusty books but also by a famous author who takes a liking to the bookshop and to her. Continue the series with The Story Collector.
Adeline “Addie” LaRue makes a deal out of desperation to live forever, but with one condition: every person who meets her will forget her. 300 years go by when a man remembers her name in a New York City bookshop. In a world where Addie has completely lost her identity, this entrancing story is about finding it.
Case Worker Linus Baker works at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He gets assigned to a classified case at the Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous kids are being held. While the island is a secret, it’s not the only thing that’s being kept off the grid. Sometimes, secrets can’t stay kept forever. Read Klune’s well-loved, sweet, and queer fantasy novel to find out if this magical world is worth saving. “It unexpectedly pulls on your heartstrings and doesn’t let go,” says one review. Pick up Somewhere Beyond the Sea next.
If you’re needing a lighter fantasy read, the Legends & Lattes series by Travis Baldree is a fan favorite. An orc named Viv decides to trade in her battle sword for a coffee shop. Cute, right? However, it’s the first of its kind. Her coffee shop draws characters from her past and present. This heartwarming read brings lattes, magic, and relationships together, all from a coffee shop in the city of Thune. Read all the books in the Legends & Lattes Series, too!
Cozy paranormal romances
These books are a little spooky but also a little sweet. They’re where autumn fantasy books meet romance meet supernatural—the perfect trifecta!
An editor’s pick for the fall, you don’t want to miss out on Katie Jung’s debut novel titled You’re the One That I Haunt. It’s My Best Friend’s Wedding meets 2005 rom-com Just Like Heaven. It’s witty, ghostly, and the perfect cozy fall rom-com. When Libby Lakoski’s lifelong crush (and best friend) announces he’s marrying a British diamond heiress, the last thing she expects is to team up with his dead cousin to stop a generations-old family curse. And the ghostly cousin? He just happens to be charming and infuriatingly handsome.
releasing September 22, 2026
pre-order now!
B.K Borison is an editor-favorite author. Borison’s And Now, Back to You romance novel was even a book club pick for The Everygirl Book Club! Grim Tidings is a perfect entry-level read for someone just trying out fantasy. The story follows Darcy Moore, a Grim Reaper who is sick of death. When she receives an assignment to drag her next target to the Underworld, she decides to ignore it, seeking refuge in a bar. Just one complication—the bar belongs to Guardian Angel Gabriel Aetos, who doesn’t tolerate the Grim Reaper. However, the pair grows close, and Aetos will have to decide if he should squash his doubts and trust Darcy once and for all. Read Good Spirits, the first book of the series, while you wait for this anticipated release.
releasing September 15, 2026
pre-order now!
Toade’s Antiques owner Clarke Cartwright doesn’t have a lot of free time on her hands. The roof is in shambles, and half her merchandise is unsellable. She’s dealing with the store and having conversations with the ghost of her childhood crush’s father. And for Leith Wilkes, he’s spent his entire life prepping to take over the family farm. But his dad left a specific clause in his inheritance. Clarke and Leith’s lives converge when Clarke admits she knows about the clause—plus a whole slew of Wilkes family secrets. But Leith starts to wonder if Clarke is keeping secrets of her own.
releasing September 22, 2026
pre-order now!
Sophie Drear needs a summer escape, so she heads off to Maine to a temporary job tending the grounds at the historical Lilymoor House. But when she finds a mysterious man trapped in the house’s gardens, her expectations for the summer change instantly. It’s the perfect read for the summer to fall transition.
In this fantasy romance, the former god of the Underworld turned grumpy funeral director Hayden Harlow must find a loophole in the Immortal Retirement Act. But when the florist next door swoops in—Levi Wilder, with a stupidly infectious smile and energy—all of Hayden’s carefully structured plans begin to unravel.
For artist Cassie Greenberg, finding a chic, affordable apartment in Chicago seems too perfect. What’s the catch? Everything seems to be going right with a new apartment and a hot roommate who’s checking off all the green flags. Except when she finds a red flag (literally)—bags of blood in the fridge. Cassie has to decide what to do after her roommate spills the truth—he’s a vampire. Pick up the next books in the series, My Vampire Plus-One and Road Trip With a Vampire.
Florence Day can’t catch a break. It’s her job to ghostwrite for a prolific romance novelist, but after a messy breakup, she no longer believes in love. Her new editor won’t give her an extension, and on top of it all, she has to return to her hometown because her father passed away. While at the funeral parlor, she sees the ghost of her handsome, “mountain of a man” editor who suddenly passed. Seeing him and learning of his unfinished business has her questioning everything she thought she knew about love stories.
In this heartwarming romantasy, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is the trope of when opposites attract—in a world of zombies, gods, and magical realms. Lonely Hart is in charge of guarding the walls of Tanria, and Mercy is an undertaker who can’t stand Hart. But when Hart begins writing anonymous heartfelt letters, he doesn’t know that Mercy is the one on the receiving end. Find out if enemies can turn into lovers or if things will always remain the same.
Cozy mysteries with a fall feel
Need a novel that has all the fall cozy vibes with a little bit of mystery? Pick up these editor-favorite reads and new fall debuts!
Just in time for the fall, Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham’s second installment of The Academy series, titled The Thoroughbreds, is one to pick up this season. It’s the perfect pick if you’re looking for a faster-paced storyline—but with all the cozy fall vibes. With class back in session at Tiffin Academy, everyone has something to look forward to. But senior year at the New England boarding school can’t come to an end without the students navigating friendships, treachery, and growing up—oh, and wondering, “What was in that email attachment Cinnamon Peters sent to Dub before she died?”
releasing September 15, 2026
pre-order now!
Novelist Finlay Donovan’s life is in full disarray. With an impatient literary agent, an ex-husband, and two kids, she has her hands full. During a meeting with her agent, Finlay shares her murderous story plot she’s still bound to write. Unknowingly, this public meeting in a restaurant becomes the plot twist to her life. She’s mistaken for a contract killer, which sets her off into a whole world of research she wasn’t prepared for. This novel had me laughing with its suspense. A lighthearted murder mystery. I was rooting for Finlay; after all, she’s a writer, not a killer.
Read all the books in the series, including the latest and sixth installment, Finlay Donovan Crosses the Line.
Looking for a cozy mystery that will have you laughing? Add Mary Pauline Lowry’s Last Night Was Killer to your TBR. Tilly’s career in stand-up comedy is in ruins, her mother passed, and she moved back to the Idaho hometown she was so desperate to leave—with her twin daughters in tow. Signing up for a pole-dancing class was meant to be a distraction. But when a night out with her new pole-dancing friends turns into a raging hangover, no recollection of the night that was had, and a dead body in the trunk of her car, she’s forced to solve a mystery before the police end up at her door.
Vera Wong, an elderly woman who lives alone above her tea shop in San Francisco’s Chinatown, enjoys nothing more than sipping tea and keeping an eye on her Gen-Z son via the internet. But one day, Vera discovers a dead man in her tea shop holding a flash drive. Feeling confident in her detective skills, she takes the flash drive and decides to solve the murder herself. Because she has a feeling the killer will come back for the flash drive, she must figure out which one of her store’s customers is the culprit. However, Vera begins to form caring friendships with them and becomes worried about solving the murder without putting her newfound friendships in danger. Don’t forget to pick up Sutanto’s second book in the series, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man).
Shop Cozy Fall Reading Accessories
Flaunt your bibliophile persona with these must-have (and adorable!) reading accessories. This fall, show you’re ‘all in’ on the cozy mom fall reading aesthetic.
FAQs
Are cozy fall books scary?
Cozy fall books aren’t necessarily scary, but they may have supernatural elements.
What are some cozy fall books for romance lovers?
Some romance books to read this fall include It’s Different This Time, If Not You, and You’re the One That I Haunt.
Can a book be a cozy fall read even if it isn’t set in autumn?
Yes. What makes a book a fall read is its atmosphere, themes, or setting.
When is the best time to read a cozy fall book?
Besides the fall season, start reading a cozy fall book whenever you’re in an autumnal mood. These types of books are typically read between the months of September and November, but can easily be enjoyed year-round.
Patty Schepel, Associate Editor
As the Associate Editor, Patty works with The Everymom’s team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, editing freelance articles, and more. With Patty’s passion for writing, experience as a mother of two, and expertise as a pediatric nurse, she brings a thoughtful and informative perspective to The Everymom.
